In the weekend, The Engineer opened the door and a woman asked if we have a black dog. Yes, we do.
She asked if he was here. He checked and the dog was sitting on the couch, all big-eyed innocence and fluff.
She went on to say that a dog matching that description had been down at the park, running into all the properties nearby.
No, we said. Surely not. Not this little guy – who, now that we look closer, has very wet feet!
He checked the side gate and found it swinging open in the breeze.
The whole thing would have taken less than fifteen minutes: the guilty creeping across the perimeter, crossing the road (shudder), trotting down to the park, sniffing other dogs’ scents in the bushes, chasing cats. Then the quiet slink in through the cat flap and satisfied smirk as he relived his fun adventure.
Needless to say, the gate has been securely bolted!
We are in the last month of winter here, the leaves are all beaded and heavy with raindrops. The skies have been grey for what feels like forever and somehow, the trees and shrubs look exactly the same but the weeds are thriving. Huge clumps of grass are growing between and through the grasses and ferns, pushing up through the paving stones. But the rhododendrons are budding and I can’t wait for the colour they bring.
Learning
I have started a screenwriting course. It is a free online course through the University of East Anglia and I’m learning heaps. So far, we have looked through scripts from some real movies and learned about the five finger pitch. Even if I don’t write a script, there is a lot of valuable information here.
Writing
In the last two weeks, I have sent the first two chapters of my novel out to two readers. This was absolutely nerve-wracking, I think because I have been working on this book for so long that it really feels like my baby. Also, I know how important the start of a book is. And I know how much I have learnt since writing the start four years ago.
Anyway, both readers were really encouraging but I know there is a lot of revision to be done.
Watching
I am loving Big Little Lies on Netflix. It is based on Liane Moriarty’s book about a small seaside community of wealthy families and secrets and deceptions that are slowly uncovered, when a murder investigation takes place. It is witty, a little dark and cleverly done.
Reading
I am reading Beneath Pale Water by New Zealand author, Thalia Henry. I have also just started Sorcery of Thorns, a fantasy story. I am still listening to the audiobook of Educated by Tara Westover. It is an intense gritty memoir of life growing up in a fundamentalist household and I can’t say enough about it.
Working
Most of you know that I am working as a freelance content writer and proofreader. A client contracted me to write reviews of restaurants and activities in my city. It is a lot of fun. I am a bit torn about whether to do it as a ‘mystery shop’ or let them know before I go in though. Mostly, I do get in contact first.
What do you think?
What are you reading? How is your writing going?
I’m reading Kate Quinn’s The Huntress and so glad I am!
As far as writing goes … eh. Pretty much everything I’ve submitted this summer has been rejected, so I’m trying to turn my focus to other things for now, like travel writing and freelance. Unfortunately, I need a lot of education in these fields and haven’t been able to find any. Sad face.
What a sneaky dog! Mine would do all that except the coming home part. 🤨
I’m always reading a dozen things, usually related to my book-writing projects, but last night I started “The Overstory” by Richard Powers.
Writing goes in fits and starts. Long ways to go.
I know, I’m surprised he just came home and sat there, like butter wouldn’t melt! Is The Overstory good? I’ve seen some great reviews of it.
Ah The Huntress – that one’s on my list. I’ve had a lot of rejections lately too, for short stories. It can get pretty disheartening. I figure I’m just not submitting them to the right places! Somebody wants to read them surely. I hope you find some good opportunities soon, Stacy.
I tried commenting from your website and it didn’t want to log me in properly so this should work.
I think your dog is genius and I love his personality! He’s an adventurer and not afraid to seek what he wants to find! I believe screenwriting could be beneficial even to us novel writers. I hope you’ll continue to share any tips you gain from the course. And def let me know if you write a script!
My writing is going okay, I’m still on Chapter 3 but hope to change that soon. Homeschooling the little one since the schools here are crap and want him to wait another year. He’ll likely be the smartest kindergartener next year, with no social skills because even the preschools here are the equivalent in price to a college degree.
My dog definitely has a quirky personality. Every time we leave him at home by himself, he gets just one stuffed toy from my daughter’s room and leaves it somewhere else in the house. It is very weird.
Good on you for homeschooling! What is going on there with the preschools??
Thank you 🙂
I’ve only read the first chapter, but it held my interest.
Hahaha, you’re dog sounds awesome! As for the homeschools, it’s Hawaii. So expensive 🙁
I forgot you are down under. I thought the dog story was pure fiction. Smart dog.
Kudos to you for finding a free course that teaches you new things.
Well done on lending the freelancer gig. It does sound very promising. If it was me, I’d do it the “Mystery Shopper” type of way. That makes your review the purest. However, if you call in and tell them, they will be on their best behavior, which means your visit might go smoother. And you might even get some free food that way.
It depends whether their aim is to promote these places, or actually give honest info to the readers.
Thanks for reading. I’ve done about 11 reviews now, some were pre-warned, some were not. When I tell them I am coming, they treat me like a queen. I am a little uncomfortable with that! They also watch me out of the corner of their eyes 👀 I find when I go undercover with the family, it is a bit more relaxed! Pretty fun job though 🙂
I can imagine! Fun, fun!